Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has intensified criticism of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration's flagship 24-hour economy policy. Addressing the NPP’s Thanksgiving gathering in Sunyani, Bawumia argued that nearly two years into the current government's tenure, the initiative has yet to deliver the tangible employment opportunities promised to Ghanaians. He questioned whether the policy had moved beyond being a campaign slogan, noting that improvements in headline economic indicators like inflation and the exchange rate do not necessarily translate to relief for ordinary households. According to MyJoyOnline, Bawumia described the lack of visible progress as a risk of the policy remaining an unfulfilled election promise.
In response to the opposition's critique, Abdul-Nasser Suglo Alidu, the lead official at the 24-hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat, defended the policy's implementation. Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story, Alidu stated that the initiative is a broader strategy to transform Ghana's productive capacity and build globally competitive companies, rather than simply requiring firms to run three shifts. He pointed to multi-shift operations in state-owned enterprises, fuel stations, and private firms as proof of progress, noting that approximately 268 fuel stations are participating in a pilot scheme and 33 members of the Association of Ghana Industries have confirmed multi-shift work. Alidu argued that the policy's success should be measured by its ability to create international competitiveness, using South Korea’s economic transformation as a comparative example.
The debate over the policy's impact is further contextualised by recent developments in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, the deputy chief of staff for administration, described TVET as a central driver of the 24-hour economy agenda. She highlighted that the government aims to raise TVET participation from 11 per cent to 20 per cent, with 70,000 students currently enrolled in public institutions. The government is also integrating artificial intelligence into TVET programmes to prepare the workforce for emerging labour market opportunities. Meanwhile, Alidu acknowledged that the Secretariat is working with the Ghana Statistical Service to establish a system for accurately measuring the policy's employment impact, as it has not yet released a total figure for jobs created.